A pair of all-Australian clashes headline a reduced Round 13 of Super Rugby Pacific with just the four games on the schedule.

Friday night sees the historic Waratahs-Reds rivalry add another chapter with the two sides facing off at Allianz Stadium and both will be desperate for a win after a rough run of results.

Then on Saturday the Brumbies will head out west to take on the Force with the Canberra side chasing down a top two finish.

Find our previews and best bets for this weekend’s Super Rugby action below.

You can completely understand the Blues going into this game as favourites, after all they are coming off a massive 21 point win against the Force last weekend.

Not to mention they have won all four meetings with the Drua by 17 or more points, including a 36-5 win in last season’s finals.

But this is not the same Blues team and they should not be at $1.37 to win this game with an atrocious 1-5 record in their last six away games.

Not to mention the well documented improvement of the Drua in Fiji, having won three of five in their home country this season.

This looks like the price is a bit off and I’m more than happy to back the Drua at home.

Drua to Win @ $2.90

The utterly bizarre streak of the home team winning every Waratahs game in 2025 has now reached 11 with the New South Welshman losing their last two away games.

Which should mean that they will be happy to return to Allianz Stadium, where they have defeated the Highlanders, Drua, Force, Brumbies and Chiefs already.

This might also be a good time to catch the Reds who have fallen into a hole in the last month, losing three of their last four which cannot be a coincidence given the news Les Kiss will be taking over the Wallabies job in 12 months.

Now facing the prospect of having to worry about the chasing pack for a top six spot, the Reds have to find a way to get out of this hole.

But the Waratahs stat is too good to pass up and one worth backing, especially with a bit of wiggle room that the 4.5 point head start gives them.

Waratahs to Cover +4.5 @ $1.82

It’s the top of the table clash we have all been waiting for and the Crusaders can take control of the minor premiership race here.

All they have to do is win their fifth straight game and ninth of the season to do so and you have to like their chances.

One of their two defeats did come at the hands of the Chiefs back in February but it is fair to say a lot has changed since that evening in Waikato.

Their away form has been spotty, going 2-3 on the road this season and looking out of sorts in their loss to the Hurricanes last week.

Meanwhile the Crusaders have endured a busy travel schedule and look set to make a statement here.

Crusaders to Cover -2.5 @ $1.87

Will a return home be enough for the Force to get their season back on track?

Most other weeks you would think so, but taking on an in form Brumbies side is probably going to lead to more misery.

Especially with the Brumbies desperate for revenge after a shocking 45-42 loss to the West Australians in Canberra back in Round 2.

Since that game though, there has been a lot to like about the Brumbies form, especially their resounding 40-17 demolition of the Waratahs last week.

I like that form to continue and the Brumbies to cruise to a much needed victory as they look to move up into second spot on the table.

Brumbies to Cover -4.5 @ $1.82

2024

What does Round 13 of the Super Rugby competition have in store for us this weekend?

It all gets started with a Friday double header as the Hurricanes and Chiefs try to keep pace with the ladder leading Blues.

Then on Saturday the Reds face a tough trip to Suva as they take on a Drua team that has given them some problems in the past.

It all wraps up in Perth with the Force potentially in a position to move into the top eight with a very winnable home game against the injury ravaged Waratahs.

Check out our previews and best bets for this weekend’s action below!

After spending so long leading the competition, two defeats in three weeks has seen the Hurricanes drop to second behind the Blues.

The good news for them here is that they should have no problems dispatching the struggling Moana Pasifika here.

When they played last season, the Canes won the away game 59-0 then backed it up with a 71-22 win in Wellington.

Considering Moana Pasifika have really struggled again this season, losing six of their last seven, there’s no reason to expect them to be able to keep this one close.

Hurricanes to Cover -32.5 @ $1.90

Admittedly the degree of difficulty has not been turned up a whole lot in the last two weeks, but the Chiefs have looked good, recording some big wins in the last few weeks.

They knocked off the Waratahs in Sydney by 16, the Force in Waikato by 49 and Moana Pasifika in Auckland by 36.

It feels strange to say, but the Rebels should be the toughest test of that stretch if they play like they did in Brisbane last week.

While it might not have been the prettiest performance, they pushed the Reds all the way and there is not much between the Reds and Chiefs.

In the last year, the Rebels have covered in four of seven home games and managed to beat the spread in four of the last five head to head games in Melbourne.

There isn’t much value taking the Chiefs to win outright, but they should win, even if the Rebels make it a bit closer than it otherwise should be.

Rebels to Cover +16.5 @ $1.90

In a vacuum, the Reds should easily account for the Drua, but the Queenslanders only have to look back to the final regular season game last year to know how easily they can get caught out in Fiji.

On that day, the Drua belted the Reds 41-17 to qualify for the finals for the first time in team history.

Their home form has been covered repeatedly but it does bear mentioning once again, with the Drua going 6-1 as the home team in the last year.

If the Reds play the way they did against the Rebels, they are going to get punished by this exciting and electric Drua team.

I love the value on the home side and am going to jump on them as underdogs in Fiji until the market corrects itself.

Drua to Win @ $2.10

A win for the Brumbies would go a long way towards securing a home Quarter Final, especially if the Reds wind up dropping points in Fiji.

This is not the Crusaders team of old, as evidenced by their 2-9 record and the Brumbies may not have a better chance of ending their 15 year losing streak against the Crusaders than this weekend.

That last victory came in 2009, in Canberra no less, and the 9-2 Brumbies will also want to keep pace with their rivals at the top of the table.

This one might not be anywhere near as close as the market suggests and the Brumbies should easily account for the converted try line.

Brumbies to Cover -6.5 @ $1.85

After just edging the Hurricanes in the top of the table clash last week, the Blues now have to maintain their focus against the struggling Highlanders this weekend.

Top to bottom this is an utter mismatch and anything less than a massive win for the home team would be a massive surprise.

The Blues have covered in seven of their last eight home games and the Highlanders have lost their last seven at Eden Park.

It seems awfully unlikely that we are headed for a nailbiting finish.

Blues to Cover -17.5 @ $1.87

We are not far away from the Waratahs needing to call one of the former players working on the broadcasts of their games to cover for their injury crisis.

Far too often teams will cry poor when a few players are missing through injury, but when you scroll through the Tahs casualty ward, they might actually have a point.

That does not bode well for them as they head over to WA to take on a Force team coming off their biggest win in a long time.

While the market has this as a toss up, it all sets up perfectly for the Force to win this one and stay in touch for the finals.

Force to Win @ $1.85

2023

There was no shortage of chaos in Round 12 of the Super Rugby season last week and with finals inching ever closer, what does Round 13 have in store.

Perfect no more after a shock loss to the Reds, the Chiefs will be desperate for a response against the third placed Hurricanes on Saturday evening in the feature match this weekend.

However there is plenty on the line all over the table with home finals and top eight spots still very much up for grabs.

From an Aussie perspective the Brumbies will have to navigate a tough trip to Perth as they look to keep pace with the Chiefs while the Force aim to cling on to eighth place.

We’ve got you covered with our Super Rugby previews and best bets below so read on and see who we are backing in Round 13.

Still winless in 2023 and with a points differential of -230 from 11 games, it’s tough to give Moana Pasifika any sliver of hope here.

After all, they just had 71 put on them by the Hurricanes, undoing whatever positive momentum had been generated in hard fought defeats to the Reds, Rebels and Blues in the last month.

Even if the Crusaders opt to rest some players following their hard fought win over the Blues, they simply have to win and pick up a bonus point in the process.

When they met in Christchurch over the Easter weekend the Crusaders cruised to a 17 point victory and that is the absolute bare minimum margin I would be expecting here.

Crusaders to Cover -20.5 @ $1.80

If last week’s win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs was not the best win of Brad Thorn’s tenure with the Reds, it’s definitely ranked top two or three.

However, it will not count for a whole lot of if the Reds falter over the next three weeks and slip out of the top eight.

While it feels like we say this every week, consistency remains a massive issue for the Reds as they chase consecutive wins over New Zealand opponents for the first time in what feels like an eternity.

The market is not giving them much chance against the Blues with a double digit line in favour of the visitors, but the Reds have kept it close at Suncorp Stadium when these teams faced off.

Even during the struggles that both sides have endured in the last decade, the last time a Reds home game was decided by a double digit margin was the 2011 Semi Final which the Reds won 30-13.

While a win would be preferable for the Reds for obvious reasons, holding on for a bonus point in defeat would not be the worst case scenario and if they can produce a similar effort to last week, it’s not out of the question at all.

Reds to Cover +10.5 @ $1.83

Despite both of these sides possessing a wretched 3-8 record on the season, both are still very much in the mix for the finals sitting just three points behind the Force heading into the weekend.

It somewhat beggars belief that either of them could make the playoffs however with 2/3 of the field set to qualify, that is what you get.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two sides is that the Highlanders have very much under achieved over the balance of the season, while the Rebels are getting the best out of what is, in all fairness, a very limited talent base to draw on.

For that reason alone, the Rebels should at least be able to stick with their Kiwi opponents for the majority of this one.

But fight will only get you so far and the Highlanders can put up points when they click, scoring 28 or more in three of their last four home games.

I like the home side to run away with it late and even though the resumes are somewhat comparable in terms of season results, talent will come through in the end.

Highlanders to Cover -8.5 @ $1.83

Even with a slightly rotated squad last week, the Chiefs will feel like they let something special slip as they suffered their first defeat of 2023 against the Reds.

They have not been afforded a whole lot of time to lick their wounds as they look to rebound against the third placed Hurricanes this weekend.

A win would all but lock up a top two spot and if results go their way, they could seal the minor premiership as well.

However that may be a bit fanciful considering who the Crusaders are playing, but they do have the confidence of a 33-17 win over the Canes a month ago.

Back at home at FMG Stadium, I like the Chiefs to remind everyone who has been top dog for the majority of the season to date with a comfortable victory.

Chiefs to Cover -6.5 @ $1.83

In spite of a pretty average start to the 2023 Super Rugby season, the Waratahs have taken advantage of some favourable matchups to vault back into the finals picture over the last month.

They have won four of their last five games, admittedly all of which were against teams in the bottom half of the Super Rugby ladder, but you can only beat the teams put in front of you.

Throughout their history the Drua have gone 0-3 against the Tahs with every defeat coming by at least 24 points.

A win here would lock up a finals berth for the Tahs and with the way they are coming into their own, they should be able to handle the Drua, who might be eyeing off their last two matches as more likely targets to get the points they need for a maiden finals appearance.

Waratahs to Cover -9.5 @ $1.83

It’s pretty simple for the Brumbies over the next three weeks, win out and they’ll be assured of finishing in at least second spot heading into the finals.

However a trip to Perth is no easy task for any side and the Brumbies only have to look back to March 2022 to know how easy it is to get caught out.

In their last trip to the West, the Brumbies only just escaped with a one point win and the Force have won all four games at HBF Park this season.

Those wins have all come against teams in the bottom half of the ladder however, with the Rebels, Moana Pasifika, the Highlanders and Drua all falling victim to the long haul flight.

The Brumbies are a much better side than any of those teams and have amassed a perfect 3-0 record on the road against fellow Australian opposition this season.

All signs are pointing to this one going down to the wire but the Brumbies have the look of a team that can handle the trip and get the result they need.

Brumbies by 1-12 @ $2.40

2022

Just three rounds remain in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season and the three tiers of teams in the competition are beginning to separate from one another.

The Blues, Brumbies and Crusaders are in the race for the minor premiership followed by the chasing pack of four teams jostle for the remaining home Quarter Final.

At the bottom end of the table, everyone from the Highlanders down will be battling for the eighth place in the Super Rugby Finals, although the Drua and Moana Pasifika are likely just looking to end their season with some encouraging wins.

We’ve got six games coming up this weekend in Round 13 with Friday’s massive contest between the Brumbies and Crusaders the headline act.

Check out who we are backing in our previews below.

Fresh off back to back wins over the Drua and Reds, the Highlanders will be happy to head home to Dunedin for this clash with the Force.

On their day the Force have shown an innate stubbornness to stay in games against much more fancied opponents but last weekend against the Crusaders was not their day.

Pummelled 53-15, it’s going to be a tough ask for them to bounce back, even against what is arguably the weakest of the New Zealand opponents.

Asking the hosts to cover a line of over two converted tries is going to be a big ask with their average margin of victory sitting at just over 10, however the Force look like a side that has fired all of their bullets.

Needing to win to help bolster their finals case and with a home crowd at their back, I’ll take the Highlanders to do their job and pick up a comfortable win.

Back the Highlanders to Cover -15.5 @ $1.83

It might be time to stop viewing the Brumbies as a good Australian team and just start treating them like a good team full stop.

They passed a massive test in Hamilton last week, beating the Chiefs by 10 points to extend their winning streak to four, three of which have come against New Zealand opponents.

On the other side there has been a theory that the Crusaders have come back to the pack just enough in 2022 to make them vulnerable in games like this.

If the Brumbies are in fact a good team, then the Crusaders are going to be in for a real test and if those things are both true (which I believe they are), then the Brumbies should be much shorter in the head to head market.

Take the value on the home side as they push for a top two finish.

Back the Brumbies to Win @ $2.38

It’s the battle of the new boys with the first ever clash between the Drua and Moana Pasifika set to take place in Sydney to kick start a Saturday triple header.

The winner of this will avoid the wooden spoon and 12 rounds into their respective inaugural seasons, it’s fair to say the wear and tear is starting to show.

Both sides have been on the wrong end of some big scorelines of late, with the Drua getting belted by the Hurricanes 67-5 last weekend, however this looks like a fairly even head to head contest.

You can count on both teams playing into their natural styles which should lend itself to an end to end game, but in one that boils down to a toss up take the underdog.

Back Moana Pasifika to Win @ $2.20

On their day the Reds would be provide a stern test for the table topping Blues side.

But if there was one big takeaway from their last couple of defeats, it’s that the losses of playmaker James O’Connor and enforcer Taniela Tupou might just be too much for this squad to overcome.

Especially when you have a Blues side that just scored 71 on the Rebels at Eden Park up next on the agenda.

There is no questioning the Reds mettle having had their moments in their last three losses, but they just haven’t got the direction in big moments a player like O’Connor brings.

At some stage the Blues will hit the accelerator and the Reds won’t be able to answer in kind.

Back the Blues to Cover -15.5 @ $1.83

If you are ready to buy into the Waratahs being competitive (and you probably should) then there is value to be found on them at home against the Hurricanes.

They will need to be on their game defensively however with the Canes coming off a 62 point win over the Drua, but the Tahs are more than happy to turn this contest into a bit of a scrap.

Their pricing and handicap is very generous considering how they have looked when on their game and I’ll jump on them with a converted try head start.

Back the Waratahs to Cover +7.5 @ $1.91

Round 13 closes out at AAMI Park with the Rebels hosting a Chiefs team that will be desperate to atone for last week’s loss to the Brumbies.

It does not bode well for the Rebels who just gave up 71 points to the Blues and have looked overmatched in their two games against New Zealand opponents to date.

Any one of the Chiefs backline could be in for a fill up against a Rebels outfit that allowed Reiko Ioane to cross for three tries on his own.

The only way the Rebels have a chance at covering this line is if the Chiefs let them back into it in the final 20 minutes and that just doesn’t seem likely for a side that needs a bonus point win here.

Back the Chiefs to Cover -16.5 @ $1.91

2021

SUPER RUGBY TRANS TASMAN ROUND 1

The domestic editions of Super Rugby are in the books and it is now time for the Trans-Tasman tournament to get underway.

Less than a week after their thrilling triumph over the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, the Reds head to Dunedin to kick off the new season.

Our Super Rugby betting markets suggest that the all too familiar feeling of falling short against Kiwi opponents will resume this weekend after a 14 month hiatus.

All five New Zealand sides are favoured but are we backing them?

Find out in our Super Rugby Trans-Tasman tips and preview below.

This fixture boils down to how prepared the Reds are come kickoff.

Nobody would begrudge them the ability to celebrate their Super Rugby AU Grand Final win, however the six-day turnaround is not going to help them here.

Brad Thorn has already said that some rotation will need to take place and the absence of Hunter Paisami is perhaps the biggest hole that will need to be filled.

Working in their favour however is the fact that the Highlanders hardly set the world alight in Super Rugby Aotearoa this year, winning just three of their eight matches and ending their season with a 41-22 defeat at the hands of the last placed Hurricanes.

Quite a lot has changed since the Reds last visited the Forsyth Barr Stadium in February 2019, and the confidence gained by winning their local competition will give them hope of springing an upset.

While taking the Reds outright is tempting, especially if James O’Connor can continue his mature, measured approach to controlling the game, I’ll settle for the insurance of the Reds at the line.

Back the Reds to Cover +9.5 @ $1.91

The wooden spooners from their respective Super Rugby competitions will begin the season against one another, however there is only one outcome worth backing here.

While the Hurricanes still fought right to the bitter end in Super Rugby Aotearoa, the Waratahs were atrocious and lost all eight of their matches by an average margin of 19.25 points.

Even with this match being played in Sydney, I’m not giving the Waratahs much hope of being in this match beyond the fifth minute.

A poor start to 2021 could become even worse if the Hurricanes come to play, we know they can score points when given the opportunity and the Waratahs will need to start praying for some sort of divine intervention.

Back the Hurricanes to Cover -24.5 @ $1.91

It’s all going against the Brumbies at the moment.

Seven days after a gut wrenching, draining loss in the Super Rugby AU Grand Final, an injury depleted squad heads over to New Zealand to take on the ruthless champions of that nation.

At full strength, this would undoubtedly be the blockbuster clash of the round however it just seems like the Brumbies quite literally will not have the horses to keep up with the Crusaders.

It was not all smooth sailing in the Super Rugby Aotearoa Grand Final but the Christchurch based side still came away with a 10 point victory there.

When you add in the fact the Brumbies have not defeated the Crusaders since 2009, I can’t back anything other than the hosts to cover here.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -18.5 @ $1.91

While the Rebels have not been overly convincing over the last few months, the line in this game looks far too high considering the Blues struggles as well.

With new boss Kevin Foote at the helm, he will ideally be in a position to fire a rocket shot at his side and get them motivated for this tournament.

As for the Blues they stumbled badly on their run home, blowing a prime opportunity to qualify for and host the Aotearoa Grand Final.

I’m not expecting a whole lot of points in this one which should allow the Rebels to at least stay in the vicinity of the visitors here.

Back the Rebels to Cover +17.5 @ $1.91

It was a disappointing end to Super Rugby Aotearoa for the Chiefs as they fell short in the Grand Final, however their overall campaign was quite impressive.

After going over a year without a win, they then rattled off five straight to make the decider before doing what most teams in Christchurch do, lose to the Crusaders.

This has the makings of a very tough spot for them with a long haul flight to Perth on the cards and a Force side full of confidence.

It was an impressive Super Rugby AU season that saw them reach the Semi Final against the Brumbies, going down by 12 points in the end.

Much like the previous match, I’m expecting a tense tussle that could be won by the first team to reach 20.

Back the Force to Cover +17.5 @ $1.91

2020

*MATCHES CANCELLED*

2019

Unpredictability is possibly the best thing for Super Rugby in this World Cup year.

Quite literally any outcome is on the table in every game as most sides find themselves very evenly matched up with one another.

Friday was the perfect example of that as the Sharks held the Crusaders to a draw before an ill-disciplined Sunwolves side very nearly upset the Reds at Suncorp.

We have tried to make sense of it all with our Super Rugby picks and preview for this weekend’s games.

Four wins in a row for the Hurricanes has them clear in second spot behind the Crusaders and they can close the gap at least temporarily here.

The Blues four wins this season have all come at home so you could very easily talk yourself into backing them for an upset here.

Nothing this season is 100% certain with most of these teams but the Hurricanes are one of the few sides that can at least grind out a win most weeks.

I’m not confident in the Hurricanes blowing out the Blues here so I’ll back them to win and the Blues to possibly get a bonus point.

Back the Hurricanes to Win by 1-12

The Brad Thorn Project gets its biggest test of the season as they get a rematch with the Rebels.

A win could send the Reds to the top of the Australian Conference and you can give them every chance to do that given the Rebels struggles lately.

They have lost three in a row and haven’t looked anything like the high flying team from earlier in the season as their lack of depth gets found out.

Queensland has won two games in a row although if you want to be really critical, they should have put 50 on the Sunwolves last week.

Either way, this game looks a lot closer than the market has it right now so back the Reds as a value play.

Back the Reds to Win @ $3.50

Who knew the Crusaders could be held at home?

The Sharks shocked pretty much everyone by taking two points from AMI Stadium and now the Crusaders have to bounce back on a South African tour.

While this is likely to be the only time they have to travel here this tournament, they still would be well served to put down a marker against the side leading the South African Conference.

It says all you need to know about the Crusaders however that they are on the road against possibly the best South African team and still find themselves as clear favourites.

Last time they travelled to Loftus Versfeld, they put up 60 on the Bulls and while a 40 point win is rather unlikely, I do think they can win by double digits so I’ll back them at the line.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -8.5 @ $1.91

Because of Super Rugby’s quirky scheduling system this is just the second meeting between these two sides.

The Highlanders have to be incredibly disappointed with their draw last weekend, feeling as though they let the Chiefs off the hook.

With the New Zealand Conference probably out of reach, they can turn their attention to the Wild Card race and the Jaguares could be one of those sides they are in the mix with.

This kicks off the Argentine side’s Australasian tour and they are bringing some strong momentum with them on the back of four straight wins.

They made their run to the finals on the back of a strong tour and will look to do the same here.

That line seems too big so I’ll back the Jaguares to cover.

Back the Jaguares to Cover +10.5 @ $1.91

Turns out the Sharks can travel, picking up a draw in Christchurch last weekend and would feel pretty hard done by considering they had the defending champions on the ropes for most of that game.

That is why it is so shocking to see them installed as underdogs for this game considering how well this tour is going for them.

Over the last eight years this fixture has favoured the home side but that doesn’t really take into account how bad the Chiefs have been this season.

Somehow they took a draw off the Highlanders last weekend and can still cause some trouble but the Sharks at that price are just too good to ignore.

Back the Sharks to Win @ $2.30

After back to back losses to the Sharks and Bulls, another South African side is the last thing the Waratahs would like to see.

They have lost four of their last five all up and now take on a Lions side they haven’t even played a close game against since 2015.

The Lions might see this game as a get right opportunity off their bye and returning home from a tough tour to Australia and New Zealand that only produced one win.

I’ll back the Lions to recover at home with a comfortable win here, they have covered the line in each of their last three home games against the Waratahs and this has the potential to get ugly if things click.

Back the Lions to Cover -7.5 @ $1.91

Can the Sunwolves keep 15 players on the park for this match?

Discipline was a huge issue in Brisbane yet somehow they went down by just six.

The Brumbies on the other hand will either be looking to take top spot in the Australian Conference or catch up to the Rebels depending on their result.

I don’t have confidence in the Brumbies covering the spread but I also don’t know which Sunwolves side will turn up so I can’t rule it out, so I’m looking elsewhere here.

The Brumbies Halftime/Fulltime double almost came through last week so I’ll back it in again.

Back the Brumbies HT/FT Double

2018

The Jaguares have shown in recent weeks that the New Zealand-based Super Rugby franchises are not unbeatable, but it will still be a tough assignment for the Waratahs when they take on the Crusaders this weekend.

The Brumbies can get themselves back into the hunt in the Australian Conference if they beat the Rebels, while the clash between the Highlanders and the Lions is set to be one of the most intriguing of the weekend.

We have analysed every game set to take place this weekend and our 2018 Super Rugby Round 13 tips can be found below.

Friday’s lone fixture is a New Zealand derby between the surging Hurricanes (no pun intended) and the struggling Blues.

It is now eight games in a row unbeaten for the Hurricanes after their win at home over the Lions thanks in large part to a defence that has allowed the fewest points and fewest tries in Super Rugby so far.

On the other hand, the Blues got a confidence boosting win over the Waratahs however they still have struggled against opponents inside their conference.

In their four losses this season they have lost by a combined total of 33 points however the Hurricanes represent a step up in class from those opponents.

Back the Hurricanes to Cover the Line (-9.5)

After their second bye of the season, the Reds set out to play the Sunwolves in Tokyo.

They are the only side in the Australia to beat a non-Conference team in their last five matches.

Their defeat of the Lions in their last game means that Brad Thorn’s side has already matched their win total from last season and go into this game as slight favourites.

The Sunwolves are 0-9 so far and have lost seven of those games by 10 or more points.

Queensland are certainly capable of winning this game however the Sunwolves are not a team that will lie down easily.

Back the Reds Half-Time/Full-Time @ $1.91

After coming oh so close against the Blues, the Waratahs have the unenviable task of playing the competition leading Crusaders in Christchurch.

This will be the defending Champions third straight game against Australian opponents first winning a low scoring struggle against the Brumbies before blowing out the Rebels in Melbourne.

With Australia’s losing streak now at 37 games against New Zealand opponents ahead of this contest it is very likely to be extended to 38 in this match.

New South Wales does have the discipline to potentially keep them in touching distance for this game which does bring cause for concern with such a big line.

19.5 points is an awfully large head start to give any team however scoring has been an issue for the Waratahs in their last two games and I am going to take the action on the Crusaders but any more and I would have to have second thoughts.

Back the Crusaders to Cover the Line (-19.5)

The Lions four game road trip concludes with a visit to the Highlanders after back to back losses to the Reds and Hurricanes.

It will have been four weeks since the Highlanders played in front of their home fans, a place where they have amassed an impressive 4-0 record this season.

For those four games they have won by an average of just under 15 points however the Lions have the attacking flair to trouble them, especially after the Sharks put up a second half blitz.

This could easily turn into the game of the weekend with the potential for plenty of points on the cards but I am backing the Lions to keep it close and possibly spring an upset.

Back the Lions to Cover the Line (+7.5)

An all-Australian derby on Saturday night and a chance for the Rebels to try and end their five game losing run.

The Brumbies come into this game fresh after a weekend off to stew on back to back home losses to the Jaguares and Crusaders.

While they have had their moments of expanse this season, the Brumbies attack has been by and large fairly stagnant, with points at a premium.

The Rebels have given up 89 points in their last two games while scoring just 28 but they do have the confidence of a 33-10 win over the Brumbies in early March.

I expect this line to move out closer to seven as the game gets closer but even so the Brumbies will have the experience to close out the game.

Back the Brumbies to Cover the Line (-4.5) @ $1.83

The Chiefs have hit a bit of a speed bump losing two of their last three ahead of their South African trip.

On the other side the Stormers have won back to back games to lift themselves off the foot of the South African Conference.

All five of their wins this season have come at Newlands including their one meeting with a New Zealand team at home in March resulting in a 17 point victory.

The market has this as a toss up but I like the Chiefs to end the Stormers perfect home record.

Back the Chiefs to Win @ $1.91

This is a very tough game to get a read on with the highly inconsistent Sharks visiting the slumping Bulls.

Many were shocked by the convincing nature of the Sharks’ win last weekend pulling away from a good Highlanders side so easily.

You never really know what sort of team will show up week on week with the Sharks and with such a tight market, I am happy to stay out of this one.

NO BET

2017

The Super Rugby season continues this weekend and we don’t have to wait long for the best game of the round.

The Chiefs and Crusaders are the top two teams in the New Zealand Conference and their clash in Fiji on Friday afternoon could be a genuine Grand Final Preview.

There are plenty of other games spread across the weekend and you can find our complete 2017 Super Rougby Round 13 tips below.

The Crusaders confirmed their status as title favourites with their win over the Hurricanes and they will start this clash as favourites.

The Crusaders have now won 13 of their past 15 games as home favourites and they are an impressive 10-5 against the line in this scenario.

The Chiefs went into the bye on the back of a comfortable victory over the Reds and they have lost just the one game this season.

They have won three of their past five games as underdogs for a profit and their record against the Crusaders as underdogs is a positive one.

The Chiefs have won the past four games played between these two sides and they have definitely had the edge over their rivals in recent years.

This should be a thrilling encounter and it is the Chiefs that really do represent genuine value at their current price.

Back The Chiefs To Win @ $2.20

This is one of the most interesting games of the weekend and the market can’t split these two teams.

The Stormers made a very strong start to the season, but they have now lost four games on the trot and are yet to beat a New Zealand-based side this season.

Winning at home has not been an issue for the Stormers and they have won six of their past eight games in front of their home fans, but they are only 3-5 against the line in this scenario.

The Blues made it three wins on the trot with their win over the Cheetahs last weekend and they have shown this season that they are capable of winning away from home.

They are 6-2 against the line when on the road and in recent years they really have played superior Rugby to the Stormers.

The Stormers may have the home ground advantage, but it is the Blues that deserve to start this clash as favourites.

Back The Blues To Win @ $1.91

The Hurricanes are the shortest-priced favourites in Super Rugby this weekend.

They lost no admirers with their defeat at the hands of the Crusaders last weekend and they really should be able to bounce back to winning form.

The Hurricanes have won their past nine games as home favourites and they are an impressive 6-3 against the line in this scenario.

It has been an eternity since the Cheetahs have found a game and they were no match for the Blues last weekend.

The Cheetahs have lost their past six games as away underdogs and they are a middling 3-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Hurricanes will be keen to return to their best in dominant fashion and they can cover the big line against the Cheetahs.

Back The Hurricanes To Beat The Line (-26.5 Points)

The Force will have the chance to become the first Australian team to beat a New Zealand-based outfit in the Super Rugby this season.

It should come as no surprise that it is the Highlanders that will start this clash as clear favourites and they have won seven games on the trot.

The Highlanders have won six of their past seven games as away favourites and they are 4-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Force showed plenty of defensive toughness to beat the Jaguares in Argentina this weekend and they have been a courageous outfit this season.

They have won only one of their past five games as home underdogs, but they are 3-2 against the line in this situation.

This is a game that the market looks to have got just about right and I am keen to stay out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

The Sharks suffered a surprise loss at the hands of the Kings last weekend, but they will still go into this clash with the Sunwolves as clear favourites.

It is fair to say that the Sharks have been inconsistent in recent weeks and they have been a tough side to trust from a betting perspective.

The Sharks are 1-1 as away favourites so far this season and they are 5-5 against the line as the punter’s elect.

The Sunwolves went into the bye on the back of a narrow defeat at the hands of the Jaguares and they have been far from disgraced in recent weeks.

They have won one of their past four games as home underdogs and they are 2-2 against the line in this scenario.

Both these teams are tough to trust from a betting standpoint and this is another game that I am happy to stay out of.

No Bet

The Lions returned from Australia with three wins and they will go into this meeting with the Bulls as dominant favourites.

The Lions have played some excellent rugby so far this season and they have been particularly good in front of their home fans – they have won their past eight games as home favourites and they are 5-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Bulls head into this clash on the back of a pair of defeats and they face another tough challenge this weekend.

They have lost their past four games as away underdogs and they are a poor 1-3 against the line.

The Lions have won three of their past four meetings with the Bulls and they should be able to improve that record this weekend.

Back The Lions To Beat The Line (-14.5 Points)

The Kings have won three games on the trot, but it is the Brumbies that will still start this clash as favourites.

The Kings have been excellent in recent weeks and they have been one of the best betting sides in all of Super Rugby this season.

They have won three of their past seven games as home underdogs for a clear profit and they are 4-1-2 against the line in this scenario.

The Brumbies sunk to their fourth straight loss when they went down to the Lions last weekend, but they sadly still remain on top of the Australian Conference.

They have lost their past two games as away favourites and they have been a losing betting play across just about every metric.

There is no way that the Brumbies should start this clash as favourites and the Kings are the best betting value play in Super Rugby this weekend.

Back The Kings To Win @ $2.35

This is a crucial game for both sides as the winner has the chance to close the gap on the Brumbies on top of the Australian Conference.

The Waratahs have lost four of their past five games and they have been a very tough team to trust from a betting standpoint this season.

They have won only one of their past four games as home favourites and they have failed to cover the line in their past four games in this situation.

The Rebels suffered their third straight loss when they went down to the Reds last weekend and their future really does hang in the balance.

The struggling franchise has also been tough to trust betting wise so far this season.

They have won one of their five games as away underdogs for a profit, but they are only 2-3 against the line in this situation.

You can’t trust either of these sides and I am more than happy to stay out.

No Bet

2016

Another week of Super Rugby and there is another Friday afternoon blockbuster, with the Crusaders set to host the Waratahs in what will be a very exciting fixture.

The Reds and Sunwolves will play for the first time in a rare Saturday afternoon fixture at Suncorp Stadium before the Lions and the Jaguares also meet for the first time.

The round concludes in the early hours of Sunday morning when the Bulls and Stormers face off at Loftus Versfeld.

The Crusaders have an outstanding record against the Waratahs and won 16 of the 19 Super Rugby games played between the two sides.

The Crusaders had their winning run snapped against the Highlanders last weekend, while the Waratahs are one of the form teams of the competition after recording a dominant victory over the Bulls last weekend.

The Waratahs will still go into this game as underdogs and they have been a winning betting proposition as underdogs this season, but they have a very poor record against the Crusaders in this scenario.

The Crusaders have lost just one of their past eight games as favourites and they have a strong record against the line when giving away a start, but the line of 9.5 points for this fixture does seem a tad excessive.

This should be a an exciting game of rugby, but it is not one that I am interested in getting involved in from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

This will be the first ever meeting between the Reds and the Sunwolves.

The Sunwolves will go into this game with plenty of confidence after they produced arguably their best performance to date when they drew against the Stormers last weekend, but they still face a tough challenge against a Reds side that generally produces their best football in front of their home fans at Suncorp Stadium.

In saying that, the Reds have lost two of their past three games as home favourites and really can’t be trusted from a betting perspective.

The Sunwolves have really struggled on the road during this season to date and they have beaten the line in only one of their three games as away underdogs, so I am not particularly keen to back them either.

This is another game that I am willing to stay out of from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The Chiefs went into their bye week on the back of a loss to the Highlanders, but they have an excellent chance to return to winning form against the Rebels.

The Rebels were not disgraced against the Brumbies, but they still lack that killer instinct required to beat the very best teams in Super Rugby and unless they are able to change that they won’t qualify for the Super Rugby Finals.

The Chiefs will start this game as clear favourites and this is a position in which they have been fairly unreliable proposition – they have won just four of their past seven games as home favourites and they are 2-5 against the line in this scenario.

The Rebels have won just two of their past nine games as underdogs, but they are 4-2 against the line as away underdogs in the past 12 months and they are capable of keeping this margin to less than two converted tries.

Recommended Bet: Back The Rebels To Beat The Line (+14.5 Points)

The Force finally returned to winning form when they beat the Sunwolves before they had a week off, while the Blues come into this game on the back of a heavy loss at the hands of the Blues.

Despite that defeat, the Blues will still start this game as favourites and their record in this situation leaves plenty to be desired.

The Blues have not beaten the line in any of their past six matches as favourites and they have been a losing betting proposition in every scenario as the punter’s elect.

The problem for punters is that the Force have been just as poor from a betting standpoint.

They have lost their past six games as home underdogs and their record against the line in this scenario is a very poor 1-5.

The Blues have let punters down for the last several seasons, but there is little doubt that they are a better side than the Blues and the line of five and a half points does not look like it will be enough.

Recommended Bet: Back The Blues To Beat The Line (-5.5 Points)

This will be the first ever meeting between the Lions and the Jaguares.

The Lions are on track for their best ever Super Rugby finish after they recorded a dominant victory over the Blues last weekend and they are set to start this match as very short-priced favourites.

The Lions remain undefeated in games in which they have started as favourites in the past 12 months and they are a simply outstanding 5-1 against the line in that scenario.

The Jaguares suffered another loss to the Sharks last weekend and betting against them continues to be a very profitable play.

They are yet to win a game as underdogs and they are 1-3 against the line when being given a start.

The Lions are a very safe bet this weekend and should prove far too strong for the struggling Jaguares.

Recommended Bet: Back The Lions To Beat The Line (-10.5 Points)

The Sharks are easily the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend and are giving up a huge point start against the line.

The Sharks have found a semblance of their best form in the past month and they go into this game on the back of tough victories over both the Hurricanes and the Jaguares

The Natal-based side have still been a fairly unreliable betting proposition this season and they are 3-2 as home favourites in head-to-head betting as well as 2-3 against the line.

The Kings never looked like winning, but they beat the line for the second week in a row against the Cheetahs and they showed a little bit of toughness in defense.

They are yet to win a game as underdogs, but their record as away underdogs is a profitable 3-1 and they are receiving a huge start at the line.

Recommended Bet: Back The Kings To Beat The Line (+30.5 Points)

The rivalry between the Bulls and the Stormers is one of the most intense in Super Rugby.

The Stormers flogged the Bulls when they met earlier this season, but they go into this game on the back of a very poor performance against the Sunwolves.

The Bulls really aren’t in much better form and they showed little resistance against both the Brumbies and Waratahs during their Australian tour.

The market can’t separate these two teams, but the home ground advantage means that we have to give a narrow edge to the Bulls.

They have lost just one of their past five games at Loftus Versfeld, while the Stormers have been a losing proposition away from home in the past 12 months.

Recommended Bet: Back The Bulls To Win @ $1.91